Downtown boosters Monday praised the Denver City Council’s approval of a plan to pay for improvements along 14th Street with a special district that could levy new fees on property owners.
Residents and property owners along 14th will hold an election Nov. 3 on whether to create the district to raise $4 million for improvements.
The money would be paired with $10 million in bond improvement funds from the city of Denver to pay for street upgrades, new trees, new signs, urban design and new sidewalks along 14th. The district could assume debt and would be responsible for raising $150,000 annually for maintenance of the improvements.
The council heard from six people, all of whom applauded the plan and said it would help transform 14th into a cultural and tourist attraction similar to the 16th Street Mall.
The district would stretch from Market Street to Colfax Avenue along 14th. Only property owners in the district would pay the new fees.
“It’s been a lot of work for a lot of people, and it’s good to see a positive outcome,” said Councilwoman Carla Madison, who joined eight other council members in scheduling the election.
Creation of the district would continue a push by the city for new development along 14th, said John Desmond, vice president of urban planning and environment for the Downtown Denver Partnership Inc.
In recent years, the city has built the Hyatt Regency Denver Colorado Convention Center and approved improvements to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House along 14th Street, Desmond said.
The district would help turn 14th into a pedestrian-friendly corridor “that will complement rather than rival the 16th Street Mall,” he said.
In other news, the council granted final approval to a contract to pay Parsons Transportation Group as much as $160 million over seven years to manage redevelopment of Denver International Airport’s Jeppesen Terminal, including construction of a Westin Hotel and a FasTracks commuter-rail station, and a remake of the terminal’s Great Hall.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
